Highlights
Sales excluding precious metals (sales) increased by 2% to £1.5 billion; at constant exchange rates and adjusting for loss of commission income from Anglo American Platinum Limited (Anglo Platinum) the group's sales grew by 10%
Profit before tax increased by 3%; underlying profit before tax increased by 2%, and 10% at constant rates
Earnings per share (EPS) flat; underlying EPS increased by 4%
Investment in R&D of £80 million, up 10%
Cash flow conversion of 50% (1H 2013/14 68%)
Strong balance sheet; net debt (including post tax pension deficits) / EBITDA of 1.4 times
Return on invested capital (ROIC) 20.3%
Interim dividend up 9% to 18.5 pence
Performance for the full year expected to be slightly ahead of 2013/14
